While all of the three faiths (Catholosicm, Judaism, and Protestantism) agree on the original text of the commandments, found in Exodus 20, the various faiths have chosen to arrange them differently. In fact, the word "Ten Commandments" does not appear in the biblical text - this idea was created by theologians, and editors inserted emphasis and chapter headings in the various translations. There are actually 14 or 15 statements in this section, and each of the three major faiths has decided which ten to choose.

What are the real differences?

• Neither the Catholics or the Jews choose to include "Thou shalt make no graven images...nor bow down to them" in their list.
• To create a tenth commandment, the Jews include a differing first commandment, "I am the Lord God who brought thee out of the house of bondage." This is interpreted as a command to believe in God, the God who brought them out of Egypt.
• To create a tenth commandment, the Catholics break out "Thou shalt not covet" into two - you are not to covet "thy neighbor's wife" or "thy neighbor's goods."
• The Judaic commandment "Thou shalt not murder" is a little more accurate than using the word "kill." That is because later in Exodus is a list of capital crimes - so the bible seems to support execution by the government - just not vigilante justice or killing by individuals.

Does it matter if the lists are different?

Not really. They come from the same passage, and do not reflect differences in biblical translation - rather they reflect different emphases. Feel free to purchase from whichever faith's list you like, and be sure to check out the Catholic, Judaic, and Protestant favorites sections!